Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
36 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bothell, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Stretching 36 miles between Federal Way and Bothell, this straightforward trip across the Pacific Coast region typically takes about 49 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance, making it a very economical drive. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, it is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. Whether you are commuting or heading to the North End, this trip is best viewed as a practical connection between two key points in Washington state.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 22.3 mi | 27m |
| I 5 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| WA 522 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 101st Avenue Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Bothell, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Turn right onto WA 99
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto WA 522
Turn right onto 101st Avenue Northeast
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 33.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I-5 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 522: Bothell, Woodinville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.53 one way
$15.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.90 | $15.80 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.18 | $16.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.95 | $15.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
11:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 10:35AM PDT until April 12 at 8:28PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Night in Bothell on Saturday
Local time
11:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Chance Light Rain
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 10:35AM PDT until April 12 at 8:28PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 85% of your travel occurs on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating I-405, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.3 miles. The drive also incorporates segments of I-5 and Pacific Highway South to bridge the gap between your starting point and destination. While the transit is fast, the personality of the road is strictly utilitarian, characterized by the steady pace of regional interstate traffic. You will find that the transitions between these main arteries are seamless, keeping your momentum consistent throughout the 49-minute duration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 36 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
817 ft
Total Descent
1,205 ft
Highest Point
465 ft
Elevation Range
428 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Federal Way, WA and Bothell, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Woodinville.
Bellevue
Woodinville
Federal Way is a city in King County on the Puget Sound of Washington State. It is the home of the Pacific Bonsai Museum and Rhododendron Species Botanical Gardens. With a population of 96,000 (2016), Federal Way is one of Seattle's largest suburbs.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 36 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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